Reflection 5: The context of art making I - At whose expense is art made?

Image:
basement
(2003)
mixed media on canvas
121 cm x 42 cm


Reading:
Rosalind Deutsche and Cara Gendel Ryan, “The Fine Art of Gentrification”. October 31 (1984) Pages 91-111th


From my understanding of this reading, Rosalind Deutsche and Cara Gendel Ryan highlighted an urban renewal process – Gentrification. This is shown though a case study of Lower east side in New York City has transformed previously an area of slum community into a creative and vibrant area with the influx of artist and their industries.
With relation to my selected artist, I could only say Shih Yun have played a part in the process of Gentrification unconsciously. Through out her 5 years in painting professionally, she has moved her studio location four times. Not being aware, she has contributed to the gentrification process. Her first studio was her old private condominium apartment called Anchorage in Alexandra. A vibrant HDB neighbourhood that is home to Queensway Shopping complex, Sweden Furniture store – IKEA and many automobile show rooms like Volkswagen and Volvo. This mushrooming of retail business together with a luxurious condominium was no like such 10 years ago. Land value must have increased.
In the subsequent locations, at new bridge road (Chinatown), emerald hill road and current location Mohamed sultan road, these are areas in which the local government have put in efforts for conservation. This helps increased the values of the areas by introducing leisure, entertainment and creative industries into the areas by alluring them an authentic neighbourhood that has cheaper rents than town. Shih Yun choice in these areas could have been the same too.
On a global view, I would like to reflect on the impacts of Gentrification with the problems faced by local starting artist. For example a freshly graduated young artist (like Shih Yun in the past), faced environmental difficulties when practicing their art as to their own studio space is a major hurler. Rent is only cheaper at obscure places like Little India. Lucky, her vacant old home was her refuge for a number of months before she could afford her own studio space. Even till now, she shares the cost of rent so as not to be finically burden. Many works from home but often it is not the most productive place.